Sources: Colts declining Richardson's '27 option
Key takeaways
- INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts will not pick up the fifth-year team option for 2027 on quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.'s rookie contract, a source confirmed to ESPN.
- Friday is the deadline for NFL teams to exercise the fifth-year options on 2023 first-round selections.
- The decision only adds to the uncertainty surrounding Richardson's future with the club.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts will not pick up the fifth-year team option for 2027 on quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.'s rookie contract, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Friday is the deadline for NFL teams to exercise the fifth-year options on 2023 first-round selections. With the Colts declining to do so, as expected, Richardson, the fourth pick in 2023, will hit unrestricted free agency after the 2026 season. Exercising Richardson's option would have come with a guaranteed salary of more than $22 million.
The decision only adds to the uncertainty surrounding Richardson's future with the club. Named the starting quarterback just two weeks into his first training camp, Richardson requested a trade in February and was granted permission to speak with other teams about a potential deal.